Mark Baker Thinks New York Nightlife Is Boring: Sees Resurgence With Double Seven

by Ross Kenneth Urken · February 11, 2011

Last night at theRichie Rich Villionaire show, Mark Baker told us that the long-anticipated new Double Seven will revive a nightlife he views as boring. But who is going to be the doorman? And what does that say about the joint? Eli Obus's video explores....

"The elusive Double Seven," as Baker called the club, has long had its reopening delayed (the team had once been gunning for a summer 2010 start). As we noted, this venture, by David Rabin, the former Mayor of the Meatpacking District, could revive his street cred and make this a hot lounge spot in the coming months. Of course Rabin has been on something of a losing streak with the fall of Lotus to Abe and Arthur's and ultimately the doomed Los Dados. His success with The Lambs Club in midtown has brought him some recent confidence, but this return to the storied MPD will be the true litmus test of his hipness acumen

Baker views Double Seven's presence as mandatory, as he hopes to resuscitate what he views as something of a nadir in New York clubland.

"I just think that New York nightlife is fucking boring," he said. "There you go. I said it: it's boring. There's nothing going on. The standard of nightlife here has really gone down and down, again because a lot of the really exciting, crazy-assed operators like...Serge Becker or even Andre Balazs. You know, Andre's focusing on hotels."

Because of the difficulties Baker and his team have found in getting Double Seven to jump-start, he thought the struggle an appropriate barometer of the barriers to entry in opening a New York nightclub in this market:

"I think it's more indicative of opening up a club period in these days. To open up a club, or restaurant, or lounge is so frickin' difficult. To risk that much money in a nightclub--sometimes it's just dollars and sense doesn't make sense."

Ultimately, Baker how his success would rely on a good vibe at the door without the nonsense of antagonistic policies.

So who will be the doorman?

Baker was mum about the selection process, but he did indicate that he was looking to bring in fresh commissionaire talent:

"I think what we've tried to do is always almost in a way create new door guys. Just because they don't come with any pre-programmed ideas or notations."

Whether Double Seven will triumph or continue to wallow in delays remains to be seen in the weeks ahead. Yet it's clear that the tendency toward the new and fresh in employees and vibe has these old club die-hards thinking about a successful reincarnation.